What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one part of the comprehensive system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services. Originating from China around 100 BC, some historians say that it had been practiced many years before. Acupuncture may be used alone or in conjunction with other TCM techniques such as Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui Na (Chinese Massage), Physical Culture (including Tai Chi and Qigong), Meditation, Chinese Dietary Therapy and Feng Shui. 
 

Acupuncture Wellness and Fertility Clinic uses traditional Chinese acupuncture as well as other advanced styles of needling, such as Balance Method and Distal Style. Distal Style acupuncture utilizes points from the elbow to the hands, knees to the feet, scalp and ears.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The Chinese theory believes that acupuncture works by balancing the body’s Qi. Qi is translated as “vital essence” or “vital air”, almost comparable to oxygen in a western sense, and it runs along 12 major meridians. If the Qi is blocked, it shows up as an imbalance or illness.  Chinese medical theory allows us to diagnose the imbalance and utilize the body’s own natural healing mechanism to balance it.

Western medical theory believes that acupuncture works by stimulating parts of the brain via the nervous system. The needles cause the  body to release natural biomolecules such as neurotransmitters, vasodilators, and hormones. The exact mechanisms which bring this about are unknown, but the effects are measurable and often can be experienced quite quickly.

Regardless, as a result of inserting the acupuncture needles, nerves are stimulated which sends messages to the brain. These messages signal the brain to release pain killers and others signals conducive to healing the "sick area". Essentially, acupuncture utilizes your body's own natural pharmacy to promote healing.

What Conditions does Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical issues. Here is a list of the more common conditions treatable by Acupuncture:

  • Upper Respiratory Tract: Acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis, common cold, acute tonsillitis

  • Respiratory System: Acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)

  • Anxiety and Depression

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Food Cravings

  • Fertility Issues

  • Disorders of the Eye: Acute conjunctivitis, central retinitis, myopia (in children), cataract (without complications)

  • Disorders of the Mouth: Toothache, post-extraction pain, gingivitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders: Spasms of esophagus and cardia, hiccough, gastroptosis, acute and chronic gastritis, chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief), acute duodenal ulcer (without complications), acute and chronic colitis, acute bacillary dysentery, constipation, and diarrhea.

  • Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders: Headache and migraine, facial palsy (early stage, i.e. within three to six months), pareses following a stroke, peripheral neuropathies, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, “frozen shoulder,” “tennis elbow,” sciatica, low back pain, osteoarthritis.

  • Smoking Cessation

Acupuncture Fertility and Wellness Clinic understands that thinking about needles might be scary; however, we treat our patients as we would ourselves. Our best of care rule is to do no harm. Treatments are extremely safe, compassionate and state of the art. We remain current with the latest advances in the profession in order to provide the best comprehensive treatment possible. For more information, let’s talk!